There are some significant differences in the plumbing system of a mobile home that are a result of the method of manufacture. Mobile homes are not built to the same standards as site-built homes since they fall under different regulations. This accounts for some of the differences in the plumbing systems.
How is plumbing run in a mobile home?
Manufactured home plumbing runs through the floor of the home. Your pipes are located within the belly board, which is sometimes called the bottom board, and is surrounded by insulation. The belly board closes in the insulation around your plumbing and keeps everything in place under your home’s flooring system.
What type of plumbing do mobile homes have?
There are basically 2 types of piping used in plumbing- metal and plastic. Most plumbing in manufactured homes uses plastic. Plastic pipes include polyvinyl chloride (PVC), chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC), PEX pipe and PolyPipe®. Metal plumbing pipe consists of copper, stainless steel, and galvanized steel.
Where is the plumbing vent located on a mobile home?
In site built homes every drain has a vent pipe that eventually goes up through the roof. The purpose is to prevent the siphon effect of water going down the drain from pulling all the water out of the trap. In mobile homes venting is frequently accomplished with one way air valves that will be located under the sink.
How do I know if I have polybutylene plumbing?
The easiest way to tell if you have polybutylene pipes is to locate the “PB” lettering on the printed label (in the image below, look for “PB2110”). Pipes are usually found in the following locations: Coming out of walls to connect with sinks and toilets. Near the water heater.
Can you put a regular faucet in a mobile home?
Things You’ll Need Replacing a sink faucet in a mobile home is not much different from any other sink faucet. Many mobile home manufacturers use a stiff plastic line to supply water to the faucets. It is a good idea to replace these lines when replacing the faucet.
Can you put a regular toilet in a manufactured home?
Standard homes and manufactured homes should have the same toilets. Measure the rough in before you replace a toilet in a mobile home. You should purchase a toilet that will fit this measurement.
What is the GREY pipe in mobile homes called?
Polybutylene pipe is a gray plastic tubing that was commonly used as a water-supply plumbing pipe between 1978 and 1996, at which time it was discontinued due to reports of pipes rupturing. 1 In new construction, it was replaced by copper or more dependable forms of plastic pipe, such as CPVC and PEX.
How a toilet works in a mobile home?
Rather than a handle on a tank like at home, a travel trailer toilet has a pedal located underneath the bowl. Pressing this pedal with the foot causes fresh water to rush into the toilet and a flap to open at the base of the bowl. The waste is flushed into the black water tank mounted under the trailer.
What is the black pipe used in mobile homes?
The “black PVC” actually a different plastic pipe called ABS, which stands for Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene. ABS is only rated for drain piping within the home, and not for water supply.
Why do manufactured homes have vents above bedroom doors?
For air circulation. Hot air rises (because it is less dense than cold air, having fewer molecules per square inch), so for the most part warmer air goes through the vents above interior doors while colder air moves from room to room through the gap at the bottom of an interior door.
Why do my drains gurgle?
So, what’s causing your gurgling pipes? Gurgling pipes are a sign of either a clogged drain line or a clogged vent pipe. Obstacles can block water or air from freely flowing through your pipes. This results in trapped air or gas bubbles, which is the gurgling sound you may hear.
How many vents should a mobile home skirting be?
Install at least one vent for every 150 square feet of floor area in the trailer, with a minimum of eight vents.
How do you test a plumbing vent?
Use a flashlight to shine a bright light down the vent pipe to look for further blockage you can reach. If you can see but can’t reach, run a plumber’s snake down the vent pipe. To continue, feed the end of a garden hose down the vent and have someone on the ground turn on the water.
What year did they stop using polybutylene pipes?
Pipes made from polybutylene were installed in up to 10 million homes in the Unites States during that period. Despite its strengths, production was ceased in mid-1996 after scores of allegations surfaced claiming that polybutylene pipes were rupturing and causing property damage.
Do polybutylene pipes need to be disclosed?
Almost all real estate listing agents require the seller to disclose the use of polybutylene pipes in the property. They suggest the sellers either bring the market price of the house down such that the buyer could make the necessary replacement or replace the system on their own with copper pipes.
How can you tell the difference between PEX and polybutylene?
Polybutylene pipe was commonly used from 1978 – 1995 and is a gray flexible pipe. PEX is a plastic flexible pipe that comes in white, blue, orange, red and a translucent milky white clear. This piping came about to replace polybutylene plumbing.
What size is a mobile home sink?
Most mobile homes come standard with a double bowled stainless-steel sink ranging from 9″ to 12″ in depth.
How do you replace a kitchen sink in a mobile home?
How do you replace a mobile home faucet?
Can you put a real toilet in a trailer?
The flushing mechanism and water usage are the main reasons you cannot use a standard house toilet in your RV. While they have the exact same use, RV toilets and house toilets do not work in the same way; the two are not interchangeable.
How do you replace a toilet in a mobile home?
What size toilet flange is in a mobile home?
This product has a 7-inch flange diameter and a 3-1/4-inch thread diameter. The closet flange is approved for mobile homes and RV’s. This product is designed to secure the toilet to the floor and connect the drain pipe.
How do you transition from polybutylene to PEX?
What do you do if your house has polybutylene pipes?
The repipe process can be costly, but your homeowner’s policy or home warranty may help pay for the replacement. Your plumber will remove all of the polybutylene and replace it with copper or durable PVC, including adapters and valves on appliances. You may also need to upgrade to new risers, manifolds, and fittings.